Ryanair cuts flights at Madrid and Barcelona due to the Spanish departure tax increases

Ryanair (Dublin) is cutting its presence at both Madrid and Barcelona in response to the Spanish departure tax increases.

The company issued the following statement:

“Ryanair has confirmed deep cuts to its flights at Madrid and Barcelona this winter in response to the Spanish Government doubling airport departure taxes at both Madrid and Barcelona El Prat airports on July 1. From November, Ryanair will make the following reductions in Madrid and Barcelona:

Madrid:

· 3 aircraft cut (from 14 to 11);

· 11 routes cancelled;

· 24 route frequency cuts;

· 252 weekly flights cut;

· 1.3 million passengers lost (from 5.3 million to 4 million);

· 1,300 local jobs lost (ACI).

Barcelona El Prat:

· 2 aircraft cut (from 13 to 11);

· 4 routes cancelled;

· 22 route frequency cuts;

· 240 weekly flights cut;

· 1 million passengers lost (from 5.4 million to 4.4 million);

· 1,000 local jobs lost (ACI).

Ryanair cuts are the unavoidable response to the Spanish Government’s doubling of airport taxes at both Madrid and Barcelona El Prat airports. These extortionate tax increases are particularly damaging to Spanish tourism, jobs and the economy at a time when Spanish youth unemployment stands at an alarming 50%.”

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